This series of images move fluidly between portraiture and nature photography. Tomas’s subjects—often positioned in close physical or symbolic relation to elements such as water, foliage, or light—are portrayed in moments of stillness that hint at motion, transformation, or introspection.
One image might feature a figure partially submerged in a stream, the surface tension mirroring the person’s contemplative expression. Another could show limbs outstretched among dense greenery, where human form and plant life overlap in composition and texture. “My pictures are about the experiences I have with the subjects I photograph,” explains Tomas. “Then those images will be there for eternity, to remember all those moments… In my heart, in my soul, with all my love.”
Throughout the exhibition, Ruben Tomas employs a palette of muted natural tones that draw attention to tactile qualities—wet hair, textured bark, the subtle lines of skin in soft light. The photographs do not appear staged in a traditional sense, yet they are the result of precise direction. As Tomas describes, he often visualizes specific gestures or poses before the shoot, working toward a pre-imagined image that captures what he refers to as “truthful” moments.
“I have visions when I’m shooting portraits of people”, he says. “I see them in a specific way, in a particular pose, with their hands and arms in a certain position, and doing a certain movement. This is the way I see them, so I direct them, and I get the picture I had in mind. It’s like a whirlpool of creativity that goes deeper and deeper, revealing more truthful images. It’s how I strive to be as honest as possible.”
This intentionality is visible in the rhythm of the series. The flow of the images—from densely composed forest scenes to minimalistic open spaces—suggests a deliberate choreography. Rather than presenting standalone works, the exhibition reads as a visual essay on coexistence and identity within the natural world.
Born in Valencia, Spain, Ruben Tomas has pursued a multidisciplinary career that spans photography, acting, and modeling. His work has been exhibited in cities including Los Angeles, Brussels, and Antwerp, and has appeared in numerous fashion and culture publications. In “Symbiosis,” Tomas channels personal memory and aesthetic intuition into a body of work that seeks to reflect not only what he sees, but what he feels.
The event is organized by Squadra, a gallery collective established in 2022 by Julien Alamo, Carla de la Matta, and Emmanuel Barbault. Squadra aims to support a wide range of artistic talent and is backed by the resources of Picto and the photography platform Photographize. The collaboration between these entities supports Squadra’s goal of fostering a space for both emerging and established artists. This exhibition is one example and it invites visitors to engage with a photographic practice that emphasizes quiet observation, sensory connection, and the blurred boundaries between human and habitat.
“Symbiosis” by Ruben Tomas, is on view from May 23 to August 22, 2025 at Picto New York, in Brooklyn.
